Материал: doichik_oia_moods_theory_and_practice
LESSON 3. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES. UNREAL CONDITION (PRESENT)
Conditional sentences with unreal condition in the subordinate clause of condition (if-clause) express hypothetical, unlikely, improbable, unreal, contrary to fact conditions under which the action in the main clause might be realized or might have been realized. The forms in the subjunctive mood are used.
Conditional sentences of the second type talk about imaginary situations in the If-clause and speculate about their imaginary consequences in the main clause. Though past tenses are used, the reference is not to past time (that is why this use of the past tense after if is often called 'the unreal present' or Present Subjunctive II).
Common Structures with Unreal Condition:
Type 2. Refers to the present.
Statements about the imaginary |
If I were taller, I would become a |
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situations |
and |
their |
imaginary |
policeman |
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consequences: doubtful |
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If he had any money, he could leave home |
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and purely imaginary statements |
If you could see me now, you'd laugh your |
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head off |
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If + were / did / ... |
would / should / |
If he were here, he might help us |
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could / had / V2 |
could / might do |
If I had longer legs I would be able to run |
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(condition |
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(likely |
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faster |
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to be satisfied) |
outcome) |
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If he failed he should (ought to) try again |
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Subjunctive II |
Conditional |
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Present |
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Present / Modal |
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*Note: ‘were/was’ are possible in |
If I was/were better qualified, I would |
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doubtful statements (here „were’ |
apply for the job. |
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sounds more formal), though only |
If I were taller, I could be a model |
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‘were’ should be used for imaginary |
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situations. |
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Advice (on something reasonably |
If you took a taxi, you'd get there quicker |
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possible to sound more tentative) |
If you didn’t spend so much time in front of |
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the computer, your eyes wouldn’t hurt. |
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Advice ‘If I were you’ |
If I were you, I would not move out (=you |
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shouldn‟t move out) |
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If I were Ann, I would quit (=I think Ann |
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should quit) |
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‘If it were not (weren’t) for / Were it not for’ (= But for)
Suggestions, polite requests ‘If smb were to do’
If it weren’t for your help, I would still be homeless
Were it not for her help, I could still be homeless
If it were not for the fact that you helped me, I would still be homeless
If I were to ask, would you help?
If she were to make an effort, she might do better.
If you were to ask her, she could help.
EXERCISES:
1.Write type 2 Conditionals
1.I don‟t have a spare ticket. I can‟t take you to the concert______
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2.She is not here now. She cannot help_______________________
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3.They don‟t have free time. They cannot go with us to Lviv_____
______________________________________________________
4.He can‟t type. He can‟t help us with those files_______________
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5.I don‟t have money. I cannot lend you______________________
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6.He doesn‟t understand the problem. He cannot help us to solve it
________________________________________________________
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7.She isn‟t in good shape. She doesn‟t fit.____________________
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8.I cannot run fast. I don‟t take part in running competitions_____
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9.She is not tall. She is not a model_________________________
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10.You should take a taxi. You are late.______________________
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11.She is not in your position. She cannot advise you___________
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12.I am in a hurry. I will not stay longer______________________
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13.He does not have money. He cannot move out_______________
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14.He doesn‟t have a job. He still lives with his parents__________
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15.The weather is bad. We won‟t walk______________________
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16.I am strong enough to lift this box________________________
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2.Insert the verbs. Use could / might / be able to in the main clause.
1.If she ________ (be) here now, she ________ tell us what to do
2.If I ________ (have) the right qualification, I ________ apply for this job
3.If you ________ (be) a teacher, you ________ understand the situation
4.If she ________ (study) Maths, she ________ solve the problem
5.If he ________ (earn) enough, he ________ buy a new flat
6.If you ________ (need) advice, you ________ ask me.
Self-study task:
Translate the sentences
1.Якби ти вчасно приходив на пари, то не мав би проблем щоразу.
2.Якби я знала відповідь, я б сказала тобі.
3.Ти зміг би переплисти річку, якби зараз був шторм?
4.Якщо б вони мали приїхати, ти б зраділа?
5.На твоєму місці я б шукав нове житло.
6.Якби я знала англійську, я б могла отримати кращу роботу.
7.На її місці я б не розповідала все про себе.
8.Якби він був молодшим, то зайнявся б танцями
9.Якби мені добре вдавалося малювати, я б малював портрети
10.Якщо б вона була у добрій формі, могла б узяти участь у завтрашньому змаганні
11.Ти б хотіла бути кінозіркою, якби мала можливість?
12.На його місці я б більше часу приділяв читанню.
13.На її місці я б змінила колір волосся
14.Вона б хотіла провести більше часу в горах, якби не потрібно завтра бути в офісі.
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LESSON 4. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES. UNREAL CONDITION (PAST)
Type 3 conditionals assume something purely imaginary in the ifclause and consider the imagined consequences in the main clause. Unlike the Type 2 conditionals, Type 3 refers to consequences which did not and could not ever happen because they refer to something that didn‟t happen in the past. They are hypothetical conditions
Common Structures with Unreal Condition:
Type 3. Refers to the past
Statements about the imaginary |
hypothetical conditions |
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situations |
and |
their |
imaginary |
If I had been old enough I would have |
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consequences in the past: hypothetical |
joined the police force |
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conditions, |
purely |
imaginary |
If I had known it was a secret, I would have |
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situations, regrets about the past |
kept quiet about it |
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purely imaginary situations |
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If + had been / ... |
would have done / |
If I had lived in the Stone Age, I would have |
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had done / |
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should have done/ |
been a hunter |
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could have done |
might have done / |
regrets about the past |
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could have done |
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If we had gone by car, we would have saved |
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(imagined condition) |
(imagined outcome) |
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time |
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Subjunctive II |
Conditional |
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Past |
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Past / Modal |
If I had been trying harder I would have |
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succeeded |
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Reason (past): ‘If it hadn’t been |
reason |
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for’ (= but for) |
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If it hadn’t been for the rain, we would have |
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had a good walk |
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If it hadn’t been for the bad weather, he |
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could have come much sooner. |
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*Note 1: Inversion in formal |
Had the management acted sooner, the |
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statements |
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strike wouldn’t have happened |
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Had it not been for the unusually bad |
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weather, the rescue team would have been |
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able to save the climber |
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*Note 2: Modals in the if-clause and |
If I could have stopped there wouldn't have |
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in the main clause |
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been an accident |
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If he could have known the facts, he might |
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have told us what to do |
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If she had been there, she could have met |
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my sister |
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Compare:
If she had been there, she could have helped us (ability)
If she had received the message, she might have told us (possibility)
If she had received the message, she should have told us (duty)
EXERCISES:
1.Write type 3 Conditionals
1.She ate too much sweets and was sick______________________
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2.We walked home because we ran out of money_______________
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3.He couldn‟t move to a better district because he didn‟t earn enough
________________________________________________________
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4.It was very slippery that is why I fell down___________________
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5.He was very tired and decided to go to bed__________________
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6.You were not watching the road that is why you got into an accident________________________________________________
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7.She didn‟t see us and therefore didn‟t say “hello”______________
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8.My parents were very nervous and left some things at the airport
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9.He didn‟t enjoy his Chemistry classes, so he didn‟t do well______
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10.The dress was too expensive, so I didn‟t buy it________________
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2.Write type 3 Conditionals (If it hadn’t been for the rain, we would have had a good walk)
1.The weather was bad, so we cancelled our picnic_____________
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2. Due to the warm coat I didn‟t catch cold____________________
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